Citizen’s Arrest of Pope by Village Atheists?

Amidst other drivel in the British press today is Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens effort underway to set up a legal ambush for Pope Benedict when he makes a state visit to England in September. Drawing a patently absurd comparison to Augusto Pinochets 1998 arrest in London, Dawkins and Hitchens no doubt took heart in United Nations jurist Geoffrey Robertsons recent demand that Benedict be prosecuted under universal jurisdiction procedures similar to those deployed to indict Slobodan Milosevic for his crimes against humanity.

Perhaps these two unruly fellows Ditchkins in the First Things stylebooksimply think the moniker village atheist insufficient. But more astonishing than their overwrought public tone is their total lack of self-awareness and tact. How is it possible these two born again religion abusers expect a hearing as disinterested parties in the fight, following nothing more than a thirst for justice? It doesnt require an iota of cynicism to see that the motivation in play is the sheer thrill of putting a pope in shackles, and that the Ditchkins monstrosity cares more about the trial than about the children. Sometimes atheism poisons everything.